This is just a test...

I guess Santa knew I was a good girl since he brought me a snazzy iPod Touch. Oh how I love that Santa.

So I'm testing out some apps trying to figure out all of the cool stuff that is available. This is much more fun than the cleaning I should be doing!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

{Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree}

I have a thing for Christmas trees. Just ask my husband. Currently, we have five in our house. In my defense four of the five are only 4.5 ft trees. One for each dumplin and one for the kitchen. The other Christmas tree is our main one in the living room. If I had it my way, we would have Christmas trees up year round. They are just so beautiful and festive. My Dad and I were able to decorate our tree together this year and that was really nice to do with him. And no, I didn't change anything around when he wasn't looking....well, maybe just a few things. :-)

I found some beautiful trees online, all at RemodelMySpace. I thought you would really enjoy them and maybe give you a little inspiration for your tree this year or next year. I know I'll be hitting the after season sales!

Baby's 1st Christmas Tree. Isn't it precious?!

I love all of the different styles of Christmas trees and all of the colors used in these pictures. From classic with a twist, to vintage to a little modern.... they are all fabulous!

How do you decorate your tree? Is it the same every year or do you change it up a bit?

{Personalized Santa Video}

If you have any children in your life - this is a MUST!!!! Visit this link and you can create your very own personalized video message from Santa Claus. You simply answer a few questions to personalize the message - name, eye & hair color, what the little one would like, etc. - and VOILA! Santa himself will send a special video message to you and its FREE! I cannot wait to show Ryder his message. He is going to LOVE it. If I received a message like this when I was a kid, I would have freaked out. LOL It is super cool! So go ahead and check it out and brighten the day for your little one, niece or nephew. It's the best!

We have a few more days with my Dad this week, so I may or may not be around Blogland very much. I'll be back soon though and be by to see you. Have a great week!

{The Santa Leverage}

Oh its a beautiful thing isn't it? This has really been the first year that I have been able to use the Santa card to its full potential. And use it I have! Honestly, I'm a little scared of what is going to happen when I don't have Ole St. Nick to fall back on. I mean, my kids listen to me out of their own free will? That would be a Christmas miracle to say the least!

Do you need an example? Well, I have quite a few but this one is the most recent and my favorite so far. We were on our way home from dinner celebrating my Hubby's big racing win {WOOHOO HONEY!} when Ryder decided to talk ugly to me, after that the conversation went like this:

Me: {In my "Mommy voice"} Ryder, do not talk ugly to me. That is not very nice.

Brian: You know Ryder, when I get home from work tomorrow I am going to ask Mommy if you talked nice or if you talked ugly. So you have Mommy watching you, me watching you, and SANTA watching you. Santa will fly right over our house if you're naughty.

Me: Well, he'll stop and give the Twinkies' their presents because they are being good...I don't know if he'd stop for Ryder though. {I know, I know, this is evil but its all I've got!}

Ryder: If my babies {the Twinkies} are bad and I am good then Santa won't leave the babies their toys and he'll leave me mine.

Brian: That is right buddy, you have to be really good for Santa to leave you toys.

Ryder: {With his little wheels turning} What if I'm really good at being naughty?

Seriously. See what I'm working against? LOL

{St. Nick's Address}

This week is a little busy for me, but all in good ways. My Dad is coming to visit on Thursday for a week and I am really excited as are the dumplins. They can't wait! So, to keep them from asking every 5 minutes when "Pawpaw is coming home?" I decided we would write our letter to Santa Claus and color him a few pictures. I laid out the coloring sheets, crayons and snacks {you know they aren't going to color without snacks!} and we all went to town. Ryder dictated what everyone would like and I wrote accordingly. It was great seeing all of the excitement in his eyes.

Last year we wrote a letter to Santa as well and it was really cool to get a letter BACK from the Jolly Old Elf himself! Talk about excitement! So, I wanted to share his address with you, I'm sure he won't mind.

Mr. Santa Claus

PO Box 1

Santa Claus, IN 47579

{I've Been Making Some Changes}

I've been a busy Mama today! Oh it feels good to just get things DONE doesn't it? Well, I was on a roll today and I can't wait to fill you in. You know I love a "Before & After" post and it just makes me giddy.

{Before}

This chair is a bone of contention for me. It is the only chair that fits Little Mama (my MIL) so I have to keep it. Little Mama is only a minute big and this has become "Nana's chair." The poor chair has taken some major hits - with 2 dogs and 3 kids I'll let you use your imagination. It finally took its last major hit and there was no helping it. I searched high and low for an affordable slip cover to no avail. In the meantime, it was in this hideous condition.....

I know you can say it...it's pretty sad. So, #1 on my list was to fix this ugly situation...

Next...these curtains. I actually love the print. But our house gets especially dark in the winter and these just are not bright enough. #2 on the list...

The mantle with a few holiday gems that need some tweaking....so sad. In my defense my nap time ran short when I was putting this together.

I wanted to reorganize my pictures and put our new ones out...

{After}

After a little tweaking I got it right. I took some mercury glass apothecaries from my bedroom and placed them on either end of the mantel and switched out the pictures...

Next I ran around the house grabbing frames that I could use for my new pictures & then switched everything out and then reorganized the shelves. I still need some height on the first shelf, but I just couldn't bare to get rid of Ryder's 4 week old picture in the middle....

I did have my furniture layout different, it wasn't good, I knew it, but I just wanted something different. I was over it today and went back to the only real layout that works in our narrow living room. Then I took the curtains out of Ryder's room, replaced them with a pair that I had in the nursery, and moved his curtains out to the living room. Follow? LOL They are simple and white and this picture doesn't do them justice. The room just feels lighter and more fresh...

So, what did I do with the old curtains? I turned them into pillows. I took old slip covered pillows that were a solid sage color and I cut out just the front of the pillow, leaving the zipper in tact. I then sewed a new front panel to create the new slipcover. So I have the print on one side and sage on the other.

And my biggest victory I save for last....

I present to you my ugly duckling who has turned into a swan....

I took my curtain fabric and made another pillow for the chair and with a spare piece tucked it over the seat cushion really well. Good as new! Whew!

I hope you enjoyed my Before & After! Do you have any projects in the works? I'd love to come by and see! Do you usually reuse things in your home in different areas or do you buy new? I like repurposing. You just can't be afraid to change things up a bit.

{Oh Christmas Tree}

I have been looking for an interesting Christmas craft to do with the kids. Something that isn't too tricky, something they can really help me with and that they would think was fun to do. I was blog hopping around the other night and came across BloesemKids.They have an awesome section for crafts and I found this one that I think fits my criteria. Khali from Little.Lovely put it together. It's fun, funky, and my kids can definitely help with this.

Isn't it cool? I love it just as it is but there is also so much potential! We could use it as an advent calendar of sorts, decorating one ornament per day until Christmas is here, adding as we go. Or make ornaments from the get go and enjoy its loveliness until the holidays are over...or even add ornaments with names of loved ones. See, I told you, lots of potential!